Dieffenbachia plant named ‘Ely’

ABSTRACT

‘Ely’, a  Dieffenbachia  cultivar. ‘Ely’ is a compact  Dieffenbachia  of medium size, with orbicular to oval, yellow-green variegated leaves emarginated in dark green. The leaves are held tightly to the stem with distinctive short white petioles. ‘Ely’ exhibits strong suckering ability. Its plant growth habit is small and compact, leaf shape is orbicular to oval, leaf size is approximately 25 cm×17 cm with a length to width ratio of 1.5, leaves are yellow green and variegated, petioles are predominately white, and the distance from apex of wing to leaf base is small and about 2 to 4 cm.

Latin name of the genus and species of the plant claimed: The plantgenus is Dieffenbachia. The plant species is hybrida.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention comprises a new and distinct cultivar ofDieffenbachia which is named ‘Ely’. Its genus is Dieffenbachia. Theplant species is hybrida. Its market class is that of ornamental pottedplants. ‘Ely’ is a perennial plant, and is intended for use inlandscaping, and as a decorative potted plant.

DESCRIPTION OF PRIOR ART

‘Ely’ is the product of a planned breeding program carried out in 2001and 2002 at Brookfield, Queensland, Australia. Pollination occurred inOctober 2001 and the selection was made in late 2002. Ely's seed parentwas Dieffenbachia ‘Tiki’, and its pollen parent was an unnamed seedlingfrom a breeding program conducted by the breeder.

Uniformity:

Dieffenbachia ‘Ely’ was first asexually reproduced in January 2004 bytissue culture. The plant is a perennial. The plant is stable asevidenced by the uniformity and stability of propagation via tissueculture since then. Propagation was carried out at Leumeah, NSWAustralia.

No off-types have been observed throughout the trial period. The varietyis considered to be uniform and stable in all characteristics.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The major characteristics of ‘Ely’ include a plant growth habit that issmall and compact, leaf shape is orbicular to oval, leaf size isapproximately 25 cm×17 cm with a length to width ratio of 1.5, leavesare yellow green and variegated, petioles are predominately white, andthe distance from apex of wing to leaf base is small and about 2 to 4cm.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined tobe basic characteristics of the new Dieffenbachia variety ‘Ely’, whichin combination distinguish ‘Ely’ from other Dieffenbachia of the samegeneral type, for example the well-known cultivar ‘Perfection’(unpatented), the parental variety ‘Tiki’ (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 7,298),and ‘Mary’, subject of co-pending U.S. Plant patent application Ser. No.11/237,506 for Dieffenbachia hybrida plant named ‘Mary’. Themeasurements refer to saleable size plants in 140 mm pots grown as anindoor plant.

-   -   1) The ‘Ely’ plant growth habit is compact (height 30 cm, width        45 cm), while ‘Perfection’ is taller and compact (height 40 cm,        width 45 cm), and ‘Tiki’ is not so compact (height 45 cm, width        40 cm), while ‘Mary’ is compact (height 35 cm, width 45 cm).    -   2) The leaf shape of ‘Ely’ is orbicular to oval, ‘Perfection’ is        ovate to oval, ‘Tiki’ is oblong to oval, and ‘Mary’ is oval.    -   3) The ‘Ely’ leaf apex shape is rounded with small point,        ‘Perfection’ is acute, ‘Tiki’ is acute, and ‘Mary’ is rounded        with small point.    -   4) The ‘Ely’ leaf size is approximately 25 cm×17 cm and its        length to width ratio is 1.5, ‘Perfection’ leaf size measures 23        cm×10 cm and its length to width ratio 2.3, ‘Tiki’ leaf size        measures 27 cm×10 cm and its length to width ratio is 2.7, and        ‘Mary’ leaf size is 23 cm×14 cm and its length to width ratio is        1.6. Note that a smaller length to width ratio indicates a wider        leaf.    -   5) The ‘Ely’ leaf petiole predominant color is white,        ‘Perfection’ is light green, ‘Tiki’ is light green, and ‘Mary’        is white.    -   6) The ‘Ely’ leaf positioning is about horizontal, ‘Perfection’        is mainly upright, ‘Tiki’ is mainly upright, and ‘Mary’ is about        horizontal.    -   7) The ‘Ely’ distance from apex of wing to leaf base is about 3        cm, ‘Perfection’ is about 4 cm, ‘Tiki’ is about 1 cm, and ‘Mary’        is about 1 cm.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The invention, together with the other objects, features, aspects andadvantages thereof will be more clearly understood from the following inconjunction with the accompanying drawings.

Two sheets of drawings are provided. Sheet one contains FIG. 1.

Sheet two contains FIG. 2.

FIG. 1 is a color photograph of an ‘Ely’ plant in a 140 mm pot grownfrom a 14 week old liner for 18 weeks under greenhouse growingconditions. This ‘Ely’ was about 30 cm high measured from soil surfaceto the tip, and was about 45 cm wide.

FIG. 2 is a color photograph showing the distinctive white petiole of‘Ely’.

BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION OF THE PLANT

The following Botanical Description describes Dieffenbachia ‘Ely’ plantsgrown at Wellington Point, Queensland, Australia grown under greenhousegrowing conditions. The plant has not been observed under all possibleenvironmental conditions. The phenotype may vary somewhat withvariations in environment such as temperature, light intensity and/orfertilizer rate, without, however, any variance in genotype.

-   Plant: In a 140 mm pot for a plant grown from a 14 week old liner    grown for 18 weeks under greenhouse growing conditions, ‘Ely’ was    about 30 cm high measured from soil surface to the tip, and was    about 45 cm wide.-   Stem:    -   -   Growth pattern.—The mature stem is approximately 2.0 cm to            2.4 cm in diameter about 5 cm above the soil level.            Inter-node distance is approximately 2.0 cm at soil level in            mature stem.        -   Color.—Immature stem emerges light green about RHS 137D but            darkens to about RHS 137C at maturity.-   Petiole: The following information is based on the 2^(nd) expanded    leaf from the apex.    -   -   Growth pattern.—The petiole has fleshy edges (wings)            extending from midrib. The wings are approximately 10 cm            long, while the whole petiole is about 13 cm long. The apex            of the wing is emarginated, is about 5-10 mm wide at tip.        -   Dimensions.—The petiole is about 13 cm long on average but            ranges 10 to 15 cm. Wing length is about 10 cm on average            and ranges from about 8 to 12 cm. The distance between leaf            base to tip of apex is small about 2 to 4 cm.        -   Color.—The petiole is predominately white RHS155A. The            petiole wings (abaxial) are green about RHS 137C which            gradually fades out onto mid rib becoming much lighter            green, about a RHS 138C. The adaxial surface of mid rib in            new leaves white RHS 155A; with maturity green specs appear.-   Leaf:    -   -   Growth pattern.—The leaf shape is orbicular to oval, with            slight cordate base and acute tip. The leaf is asymmetric            with the side of the leaf unrolling first having less            surface area then the side unrolling last. The leaf is            oriented parallel to the stem axis at the time of full            unrolling, changing to about horizontal to stem and hence            exposing the full color of the leaves. The mid rib is            straight over the length of leaves, with only some of the            lower leaves drooping.        -   Dimensions.—The leaf is approximately 25 cm×17 cm with a            length to width ratio of 1.5.        -   Midrib.—Prominent and attractive.        -   Primary veins.—The primary veins are sunken into the upper            surface and protrude out of the underside.        -   Color and pattern.—The adaxial surface of new leaves has a            midrib color of white RHS 155A and with maturity green specs            creep in the white sections. The leaf edges are dark green            about RHS 139A but blend into yellow green about RHS 154D            through to white RHS 155A around midribs and main veins.            Green specs and spots are present in the leaf blade. The            abaxial surface is lighter than the adaxial surface, the            edges are about RHS 139C, and the middle is about RHS 154D,            similar to the adaxial but only lighter.        -   Axillary breaks.—‘Ely’ exhibits strong suckering ability,            filling the pot quickly and giving a compact appearance.-   Inflorescence: The inflorescence consists of an outer spathe which    supports the spadix on which central axis several male and female    flowers are clustered without any petals. The flower color of ‘Ely’    includes a peduncle which is almost white, RHS 155A. The spathe is    green, about RHS 139C and yellow green RHS 154D. The intensity of    the color expression is somewhat dependent on the amount of the    exposure of the spathe.-   Roots: The roots are thick and white, with fine laterals.

All codes refer to “The Royal Horticultural Society London, 1995 Ed.”.Colors and leaf size may vary somewhat depending on horticulturalpractices such as light levels and fertilizer rates, among other things,without however, any variance in genotype.

1. A new and distinct cultivar of Dieffenbachia plant named ‘Ely’, asherein described and illustrated.